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Bundesliga: Five things to keep an eye on this weekend

By Vincent Ashitey
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich
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The football action is restarting in Spain and Italy with England's Premier League just a few days away now.

But don't you forget that Germany's Bundesliga is still alive and kicking.

Another hectic and potentially historic weekend awaits as Bayern Munich aim to seal the title, the Champions League scramble hots up and there's a six-pointer at the bottom.

Sportsmail brings you five things to keep an eye on this weekend in Germany.

CAN BAYERN GET OVER THE FINISH LINE?

Not too many clubs have the distinction of winning eight consecutive league titles.

Bayern Munich could seal their eighth consecutive Bundesliga title on Saturday evening

Of course, there's Juventus, whose Serie A streak since the 2011-12 season is ongoing and they will be going for a ninth straight when their league resumes next weekend.

In Scotland, Celtic have just won their ninth in a row, matching the feat achieved by Old Firm rivals Rangers in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The New Saints in Wales won eight in a row between 2011-12 and 2018-19, as did Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria during the same period.

And they all pale in comparison to the 13 consecutive titles won by BATE Borisov in Belarus between 2006 and 2018.

Who knows how long Bayern's streak will go on for but for now the focus is on getting over the finishing line this season.

It could happen on Saturday if nearest challengers Borussia Dortmund lose at Fortuna Dusseldorf and then Bayern beat Borussia Monchengladbach in the evening game.

That would put Hansi Flick's side 10 points clear with just three matches remaining. Chances are, however, they will have to wait another few days with Dortmund surely likely to beat struggling Dusseldorf.

Remorseless Bayern have played as though the two-month Covid-19 break never even happened but their attack may be more toothless than usual against Gladbach.

Robert Lewandowski, who has 30 Bundesliga goals this season, and Thomas Muller are both suspended for Saturday's match, while Serge Gnabry injured his back and arm in training.

So we could catch a glimpse of 19-year-old Dutch forward Joshua Zirkee who has scored three times in seven league games during a breakthrough season.

Having scored 90 goals from 30 games so far, there's every chance Bayern will top 100 by the end of the season.

And let's not forget they're chasing a Treble having made the German Cup final in midweek with their form since the resumption surely making them Champions League favourites in August too.

CAN SANCHO MAKE SOME POSITIVE HEADLINES?

There's every chance we could be witnessing Jadon Sancho's final few matches in Borussia Dortmund colours.

A frustrating week for Sancho saw him fined by Borussia Dortmund for getting his hair cut

It isn't just that Manchester United and others retain an interest in signing the England star this weekend, but some at Dortmund are losing patience with the 20-year-old.

The past week has seen Sancho fined £8,000 by his club for breaking lockdown protocols to get his hair cut, the latest in a series of relatively small but nonetheless annoying off-field indiscretions.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc expressed the club's frustrations this week when he said: 'Jadon is not only an exceptional footballer who is noticeable on the pitch but now and then also outside of the pitch.

'Sometimes it's not easy for us.'

Team-mate Emre Can also told Sancho to 'grow up' in another sign that patience is wearing thin. 

The £100million-valued Sancho is testing the patience of Dortmund officials and some parts of the fanbase but there can be few arguments about his form on the pitch.

Sancho had his hair cut barber Winnie Nana Karkari - who visited the England star's home

17 goals and 17 assists in the Bundesliga alone have made this an outstanding season for Sancho whatever happens next.

And he's likely to add to those totals if involved at Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday afternoon as Dortmund also prepare to welcome back the fit-again Erling Haaland.

Fortuna have lost just one since the restart - and that was to Bayern - but have also dropped a number of crucial points as they bid to escape the relegation spots.

Fortuna Dusseldorf are still fighting to escape relegation and drew 2-2 with Hoffenheim 

Currently on course for the relegation play-off, Uwe Rosler's side trail Mainz above them by just three points though can't exactly expect to get this return against Dortmund.

CAN WERNER FIRE LEIPZIG BACK TO FORM?

Leipzig have disappointed all those who wanted the conclusion to the title race to be exciting with their hot and cold form since the restart.

Though Julian Nagelsmann's side haven't actually lost any of their five games, three draws and some patchy performances have put paid to any challenge to Bayern.

Their malaise was summed up by last weekend's 1-1 draw at home to bottom club Paderborn. Leading 1-0 and comfortable, Dayot Upamecano was handed a second yellow for daftly booting the ball away and Paderborn ended up scoring a stoppage time equaliser.

It hasn't really gone to plan for Nagelsmann and the transfer speculation over star striker Timo Werner's £53million move to Chelsea - expected to be completed soon - has been a distraction.

Werner was unable to add to his 25 Bundesliga goals for the season against Paderborn after being forced to chase around alone up front with his side down to 10 men.

He will get another opportunity to whet the appetite of Chelsea fans when Leipzig open the Bundesliga weekend by travelling to Hoffenheim on Friday evening.

It was an afternoon of frustration for Chelsea-bound Timo Werner against Paderborn 

Werner scored twice in December's reverse fixture, a 3-1 Leipzig win. That result, amid a nine-match unbeaten sequence, saw them top of the table but it's all unravelled since.

Despite being just two points off the European places, Hoffenheim dispensed with manager Alfred Schreuder after last week's Dusseldorf draw and a team of coaches will take charge for this one.

HAVERTZ BACK AS LEVERKUSEN HEAD TO SINKING SCHALKE

It's not just Werner who could be on his way to Stamford Bridge when the summer transfer window opens.

As Sportsmail revealed this week, Chelsea are also interested in Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kai Havertz though they are sure to face stiff competition for his signature.

Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz sat out last weekend's loss to Bayern because of injury

Havertz missed Leverkusen's home defeat to Bayern last weekend and their midweek Cup win over fourth-tier Saarbrucken because of a muscle injury.

But the 21-year-old is poised to return when they make the journey to struggling Schalke on Sunday afternoon.

With 15 goals and eight assists in all competitions this season, with five of those goals coming since the restart, it isn't hard to see why Havertz attracts such a fuss.

One attribute is the youngster's versatility, with Leverkusen boss Peter Bosz pushing him into more of a forward role in recent weeks in the injury absence of Kevin Volland and Lucas Alario.

Havertz is a Chelsea transfer target after another highly impressive Bundesliga season 

The result has been that Havertz simply scores more goals and so it will be interesting to see what Bosz does now those two regular forwards are fit again.

Schalke have been a shambles since returning to action, with last weekend's 1-1 draw at Union Berlin the first point they've gained from 15 on offer.

And it will be a very tough ask to get anything against a Leverkusen team hopeful that Monchengladbach, their rivals for fourth spot, will lose to Bayern on Saturday.

The two teams are in fourth and fifth place but locked together on 56 points and the chase for the final Champions League positions is expected to go right down to the wire.

Jonjoe Kenny (right), on loan from Everton, scored as Schalke collected a point at Union Berlin

RELEGATION SIX-POINTERS

As Bayern make a non-event of the title race, the picture down the bottom of the Bundesliga is fascinating and looks set to hold our attention until the final day.

Bottom placed Paderborn will be relegated if they lose at home to second-bottom Werder Bremen and Fortuna Dusseldorf upset expectations to beat Dortmund.

Sitting 11 points from safety, Paderborn look doomed anyway but the match is huge for Bremen, who need to make up six points to pull off a miracle escape.

It's increasingly desperate for Werder Bremen as relegation stares them in the face

Having given themselves some hope with wins over Freiburg and Schalke, Bremen have suffered successive defeats to Eintracht Frankfurt and Wolfsburg to dent their chances.

It's now do or die for one of Germany's biggest clubs and they simply cannot afford not to win against a Paderborn side who are certainly resilient.

Above them, Mainz are just above the trapdoor with 31 points, then it's Union Berlin and Augsburg both on 32 points.

Mainz gave themselves a lifeline with a 2-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend 

Mainz and Augsburg meet on Sunday afternoon in a game both dare not lose with barely any cushion to Dusseldorf in the relegation play-off spot.

Mainz will be bolstered by their 2-0 derby win over Frankfurt last time out, while Augsburg were held to a 1-1 draw by Cologne.

Source: dailymail